News & Events

Legal Aid Helps Low-Income Taxpayers

AUGUST 15, 2019 If you have a disagreement with the IRS? Legal Aid’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) may be able to help. Our clinic provides free, confidential, controversy assistance to income‐eligible taxpayers in Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland,… Read More

Legal Aid Advocates for Kinship Caregivers

JUNE 28, 2019 As a “Kinship Caregiver”, you may have questions about your rights, the rights of the child, and how best to meet the child’s needs. For example, how do you get them enrolled in school? How do you… Read More

VLP gains a Brazilian’s legal perspective

JUNE 27, 2019 Renata Xavier is the new Summer Law Clerk for the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP). In her role, Renata will assist Elizabeth Zak, VLP Managing Attorney, to manage client contacts and conduct legal research. Where are you… Read More

Check Out Legal Aid’s Newest Annual Report!

JUNE 10, 2019 We feature Kids in School Rule! (KISR!), an innovative partnership program with Cincinnati Public Schools and Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services, which reduces the barriers to education for children in foster care. The report… Read More

Arthur J. Southard Named 2018 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year

MAY 2, 2019 The Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation is pleased to announce Arthur J. Southard as the 2018 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year. Mr. Southard is also a practitioner who specializes in the areas of bankruptcy, criminal defense,… Read More

Elizabeth Zak Named Managing Attorney of the Volunteer Lawyers Project

MARCH 5, 2019 Congratulations! to Elizabeth Zak on being named Managing Attorney of the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP). The VLP was co-founded by Legal Aid and the Cincinnati Bar Association to encourage volunteer participation by private attorneys to… Read More

FEBRUARY 6, 2019 Emily Roberts is a staff attorney and Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation Justice For All Fellow. Her two-year fellowship project focuses on the connections between domestic violence and loss of housing and creating a strong local referral mechanism… Read More

DECEMBER 14, 2018 Kristin Riebsomer is a staff attorney at Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. She is in her second year as an Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation Justice For All Fellow. Her fellowship focus is on assisting pregnant… Read More

Steve Sharpe Named 2018 Rising Star

DECEMBER 8, 2018 Congratulations to Senior Attorney Steve Sharpe who received a 2018 Rising Star award from the National Consumer Law Center on October 27th. The award honors an attorney, in practice for 15 years or less, who made major… Read More

Legal Aid and Children’s Hospital Celebrate 10 Years of Child HeLP

DECEMBER 5, 2018 Thank you to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for helping to make our Child HeLP partnership such a success! Legal Aid’s Child Help team recently joined our medical partners at the Pediatric Primary Care Center in Avondale to recognize… Read More

Stephanie Moes Receives Award from CAA

NOVEMBER 28, 2018 Congratulations to Legal Aid Managing Attorney, Stephanie Moes who recently received the 2018 Theodore M. Berry Award from the Community Action Agency (CAA). This award, named in honor of the former mayor of the City of Cincinnati… Read More

Jamie Landvatter Promoted to Senior Attorney

NOVEMBER 2, 2018 Congratulations to Jamie Landvatter who was just promoted to Senior Attorney and named the Project Manager of the new Kinship Care Team. This innovative initiative will take an integrated approach to address client needs that arise from… Read More

Know Your Rights Event Hosted to Educate Community On Lack of Affordable Housing

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 “Every year over 12,000 families in Hamilton County face eviction,” stated John Schrider, Director, Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio LLC, speaking at the Know Your Rights event. He was referencing the recent Evictions Study conducted by… Read More

SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 Congratulations to Maggie Fibbe, Legal Aid senior attorney, on receiving an award at the YWCA Immigrant Survivors of Partner Violence 11th Biennial Conference. “Maggie fights for her clients in both immigration and family courts until they achieve… Read More

SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 “We were delighted to host an Appreciation Luncheon to thank the volunteer attorneys and Hamilton County Juvenile Court staff for their work at the Juvenile Custody and Companionship Clinic,” stated Anne Lucas, Managing Attorney of the Volunteer… Read More

SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 “Ms. Mo’s commitment is to the children,” said Marcheta Gillam, senior attorney at Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, talking about Moneaca Collins, the president of the Winton Terrace resident council. Marcheta continued, “Ms. Mo seeks to… Read More

Check Out The Volunteer Lawyers for The Poor Foundation’s 2017 Annual Report!

SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 Thank you to all the private attorneys who took cases pro bono for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, volunteered at the Family Law Clinic at Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court or the new Custody and Companionship Clinic at… Read More

AUGUST 29, 2018 Thanks to the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for the shout-out for our housing work on behalf of the Alms Hill residents association in its new newsletter! Over a three year period, our housing attorneys worked… Read More

VLP Partners With Butler County Educational Service Center for Wills Clinic

AUGUST 23, 2018 “What you’re doing for the community is amazing,” said one client at the recent Volunteer Lawyer’s Project Wills Clinic that assisted participants in the Kinship Navigator Program offered by the Butler County Educational Services Center in Hamilton. Read More

Legal Aid and Children’s Hospital Team Up for School Supply Drive

AUGUST 6, 2018 “Seeing the kids’ smiles when they receive a backpack is so heartwarming,” stated Legal Aid Advocate Deanna White. She was talking about Legal Aid staff joining with our Child HeLP partners at Cincinnati Children’s to collect school… Read More

“Everybody Loses When There Are Lots of Evictions”

JUNE 22, 2018 “Nobody wins…everybody loses when there are lots of evictions,” states John Schrider, director of Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, LLC. He’s quoted in a WCPO follow- up story noting that just 10 landlords account for nearly… Read More

Legal Aid Client Shares The Anguish of An Eviction

JUNE 21, 2018 WCPO reporter Lucy May profiled a Legal Aid client who was evicted from her home of four years to show the personal impact of an eviction. Just one month after the health department found mold in her… Read More

New Evictions Study Illustrates the Impact on our Community

JUNE 21, 2018 Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, LLC and Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) collaborated with The Cincinnati Project at the University of Cincinnati to conduct a study on evictions in Hamilton… Read More

Legal Aid Named 2018 Affordable Housing Advocate

JUNE 7, 2018 The Alms Hill Residents’ Association, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, and Legal Aid Society were named 2018 Affordable Housing Advocates. They were honored at the June 5 Affordable Housing Advocates(AHA) annual meeting. John Schrider, Director, Legal Aid… Read More

Welcome to Legal Aid’s 2018 Summer Law Clerks!

JUNE 1, 2018 Seven new law clerks joined Legal Aid Society for the summer. Six are first year law students from the following schools: University of Cincinnati College of Law, University of Kentucky College of Law, and the University of… Read More

Check Out Legal Aid’s New Annual Report!

MAY 29, 2018 It features our Housing attorneys’ success in preserving affordable housing in Greater Cincinnati. It also highlights our Income, Work & Health advocates’ effectiveness in removing barriers to employment for participants in Hamilton County Job and Family Services’… Read More

Managing Attorney, Nick DiNardo, Comments on City of Cincinnati Lawsuit Against Discriminatory Landlord

MAY 23, 2018 “Housing discrimination is still a huge problem in our community,” stated Nick DiNardo, managing attorney at Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio LLC. Read more of Nick’s comments in a story on a Sedamsville landlord by Craig… Read More

Happy 10th Anniversary to Child HeLP!

MAY 21, 2018 We celebrated everyone who contributed to the success of Legal Aid’s Child HeLP partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center at a reception at Anderson Pavilion. Thank you to our event host: Bartlett Wealth Management, our video… Read More

Child HeLP Partnership Celebrates 10th Anniversary with New Video

MAY 16, 2018 Our innovative medical-legal partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center resolves issues related to living in poverty that get in the way of children’s health and well-being. During Child HeLP’s first ten years, we’ve assisted over 15,000… Read More

Celebrate Mother’s Day and make a difference for Legal Aid!

MAY 7, 2018 Did you know that Amazon will make a donation to Legal Aid Society when you shop at smile.amazon.com? It is easy to do. Just click to choose Legal Aid Society as your… Read More

Check out our Spring Briefings Newsletter!

APRIL 9, 2018 In this issue, we highlight one of our housing partnerships that provides an innovative opportunity for homeownership. We also share the latest on our effective medical-legal partnerships, and recognize Legal Aid Senior Attorney, Manager – Immigration Group,… Read More

Happy Birthday to Legal Aid!

JANUARY 30, 2018 Happy Birthday to Us! Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati is celebrating its 110th year of resolving serious legal issues for low-income individuals! Here are some facts about us that you might not know: We are the… Read More

Congratulations to Legal Aid’s Housing Practice Group!

DECEMBER 19, 2017 Congratulations to Legal Aid’s Housing Practice Group on receiving the Julie Martin Service Provider of the Year Award from the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition! Legal Aid Senior Attorney Virginia Tallent accepted the award on the group’s… Read More

Legal Aid Hosts Phonathon to Help Callers Receive Health Insurance

DECEMBER 5, 2017 We were able to help 188 callers during yesterday’s phonation on signing up for health insurance marketplace and Medicaid and we are in the process of responding to the 107 people who left us voicemails. Thanks to… Read More

Legal Aid and the VLP co-host a Bankruptcy Breakfast!

NOVEMBER 16, 2017 Legal Aid and the Volunteer Lawyers Project co-host a “Bankruptcy Breakfast” on November 9th to thank members of the bankruptcy bar for taking cases pro bono. The event was made possible by a grant from the American… Read More

New Custody and Companionship Clinic Launched

NOVEMBER 16, 2017 Hamilton County Juvenile Court, Legal Aid Society and the Hamilton County Law Library partnered to create a Custody and Companionship Clinic to improve access to the juvenile justice system for low-income individuals. Specifically, the clinic offers free,… Read More

Happy 35th Anniversary to the Volunteer Lawyers For the Poor Foundation!

OCTOBER 26, 2017 Legal Aid and the VLPF celebrated this milestone last night at Graydon’s stunning office. We were honored to have Judge Michael R. Barrett as our keynote speaker and to recognize the founders of the VLPF: Harry Santen,… Read More

Exciting News for Residents of Alms Hill apartments!

OCTOBER 12, 2017 Federal District Judge Timothy Black issued a decision Thursday afternoon granting Legal Aid’s motion for a preliminary injunction against HUD. This ruling sets aside HUD’s attempt to end the Section 8 housing assistance contract for the Alms… Read More

Check Out The Volunteer Lawyers for The Poor Foundation’s 2016 Annual Report!

SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 Did you know? The Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation (VLPF) is celebrating its 35 Anniversary this year. Co-founded by Legal Aid and the Cincinnati Bar Association, the VLPF, through the Volunteer Lawyers Project, provides a way… Read More

Congratulations to VLP Attorneys, Jacob Samad & Sarah Topy!

AUGUST 3, 2017 Congratulations! to Jacob Samad, partner at Robbins Kelly Patterson, & Tucker, and Sarah Topy, counsel at Procter & Gamble who were just named to the Business Courier’s Forty Under 40 class of 2017! The award honors young… Read More

Legal Aid Saves Home for Working Mom and Her Daughters

JULY 10, 2017 Did you know Legal Aid has saved over 1465 families’ homes from foreclosure since the housing crisis of 2008? Working parents are often the most vulnerable to unexpected life catastrophes such as illness or job loss that… Read More

Congratulations! Kids in School Rule! (KISR!) Graduates

JULY 7, 2017 We are pleased to announce that 19 of 21 KISR! seniors graduated this year. The average KISR! graduation rate over the past six years is 95%, significantly higher than the average national graduation rate of 40%… Read More

KISR! Partners with Activities Beyond The Classroom to Offer Enrichment Programs for Children in Foster Care

JUNE 22, 2017 “Participation in enrichment opportunities – playing on a sports team, taking music lessons, or going to a summer camp –helps children develop skills and interests and build lasting, supportive relationships. Unfortunately, such activities are often unavailable to… Read More

Kids in School Rule! Program Featured in Cincinnati.com Article

MAY 25, 2017 Legal Aid’s leadership in developing and managing Kids in School Rule!, a program to support education success for students in foster care in Hamilton County is highlighted in this article. “Kudos to Hamilton County which is well… Read More

Take a look! Legal Aid’s New Annual Report is Here.

MAY 19, 2017 Take a look! Legal Aid’s new Annual Report is here. Learn about our medical-legal partnerships with Cincinnati Children’s and TriHealth as well as our Family Law partnerships with the Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court and the Hamilton… Read More

P.J. Minnillo named 2016 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year by the VLP!

MAY 16, 2017 Congratulations to Paul J. (P.J.) Minnillo who was named 2016 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year by the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP)! The award was presented at the recent Cincinnati Bar Association annual meeting. Paul specializes in bankruptcy… Read More

MAY 16, 2017 Congratulations to Anne Lucas, Managing Attorney of the Volunteer Lawyer Project, who was honored recently by Su Casa Hispanic Center with the 2017 “Immigrants Advocate Award”. Anne was recognized for her dedication to providing legal representation… Read More

Catherine Evans honored as 2016 Butler County Volunteer Lawyer of the Year!

MAY 8, 2017 Congratulations to Catherine Evans! She was honored by the Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation as the 2016 Butler County Volunteer Lawyer of the Year! Anne Lucas, managing attorney of the VLP presented the award to Cathi… Read More

Legal Aid and the VLP celebrate Law Day with the Butler County Bar Assocation

MAY 8, 2017 Thanks to the Butler County Bar Association (BCBA) for inviting Legal Aid and the Volunteer Lawyer Project to join in the celebration of Law Day 2017. This year’s Law Day theme was: The 14th Amendment: Transforming American… Read More

New M-HeLP Partnership Launched with TriHealth and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

MARCH 29, 2017 We are excited to introduce our newest program: M-HeLP: A Maternal Health-Law Partnership. M-HeLP assists low-income pregnant women at Good Samaritan Hospital’s Faculty Medical Center (FMC) resolve major social stressors that can undermine pregnancy outcomes. The key… Read More

Attorneys and Law Students Help Clients in VLP Wills Clinic

MARCH 1, 2017 Thank you to attorneys Michael Mann, Jacob Samad, and Esther Norton, UC law student Brooke Logsdon, and NKU law students, Amberly Newberry, and Allison Ernst for volunteering at the VLP Wills Clinic. “This Clinic is extremely beneficial… Read More

Elaine Fink Receives OLAF’s Denis Murphy Award

DECEMBER 13, 2016 Congratulations to Elaine Fink, Legal Aid’s Managing Attorney for the Children and Education practice group! She received the 2016 Denis Murphy Award from the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation (OLAF). David Kutik, president of the OLAF Board of… Read More

Congratulations to Legal Aid’s Immigration Team!

OCTOBER 26, 2016 Legal Aid’s Immigration Team was recognized for its service to the immigrant community by the Alliance for Immigrant Women (AIW) at its Biennial Conference! “Immigration law has special pathways for immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault… Read More

Legal Aid Receives $25,000 Donation from GE Chairman’s Award Winner

AUGUST 1, 2016 We had the honor of thanking Bradley D. Mottier, VP at GE Aviation for directing a $25,000 GE Chairman’s Award grant to Legal Aid. He was joined by Carey Greiner, a member of Legal Aid’s Board of… Read More

Eric Kearney Joins Legal Aid Society Board of Trustees

JULY 18, 2016 The Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati is pleased to announce that Eric H. Kearney, Esq. has been elected to its Board of Trustees to serve a three year term. Mr. Kearney is currently President and CEO… Read More

New Family Law Clinic Opened June 16, 2016

JUNE 16, 2016 The indigent and the working poor are the most vulnerable when facing an unfamiliar legal system during a time of emotional upheaval in their lives such as a divorce. To alleviate this situation, The Legal Aid Society… Read More

Celebrating Legal Aid/Cincinnati Works Partnership

JUNE 14, 2016 Legal Aid received a great shout-out in June 2016 from our longtime partner, Cincinnati Works! Read it here. Pictured: Liane and Dave Phillips… Read More

Nancy Brewer Named 2015 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year

APRIL, 2016 The Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) announced Nancy Brewer as our 2015 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year at the Cincinnati Bar Association annual meeting in April, 2016. Ms. Brewer is a solo practitioner who specializes in employment discrimination. Since… Read More

Child HeLP Recognized as Outstanding Medical-Legal Partnership

APRIL 19, 2016 Child HeLP, our partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, was recognized in April 2016 as a 2016 Outstanding Medical-Legal Partnership at the National Medical-Legal Partnership Summit! Child HeLP was specifically cited for its depth of integration… Read More

Julia Meister Appointed to Legal Aid’s Board of Trustees

APRIL 11, 2016 Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati is pleased to announce that Julia B. Meister has been appointed to the Board of Trustees to serve a three year term. Ms. Meister is a partner in the… Read More

Mary Asbury Receives 2016 Racial Justice Award

MARCH 8, 2016 Congratulations to Mary Asbury, Executive Director of Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, on receiving the 2016 Racial Justice Award from the YWCA. Mary was honored along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker at the Y’s… Read More

Dr. Karen Bankston Appointed to Legal Aid’s Board of Trustees

JANUARY 29, 2016 Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati is pleased to announce that Dr. Karen Bankston has been appointed to its Board of Trustees to serve a three year term. Dr. Bankston is currently Associate Dean for… Read More

Victory for Tenants in Six Low-Income Buildings

“Cincinnati Legal Aid, working with the City of Cincinnati, the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition and HUD had a huge victory in court today,” stated Nicholas DiNardo, managing attorney Housing and Consumer, Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio. Judge Beth Myers… Read More

Expelled Students Make Colerain High Rap Video as Part of Lawsuit Settlement

We are happy to share a positive update on the case Legal Aid settled with Northwest Local School District on behalf of four Colerain High School students and their parents. The agreed upon diversity respect program, facilitated by noted expert, Eric Ellis, begins tonight at 7 pm at the Colerain High School Auditorium. Read More

Child HeLP Team Received the Academic-Community Research Partnership Award

OCTOBER 9, 2014 Congratulations to our Child HeLP partnership which just received the Academic­ Community Research Partnership Award from the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training at the University of Cincinnati. Child HeLP, which stands for The Cincinnati… Read More

Deanna White Honored with 2014 Community Health Award

OCTOBER 6, 2014 Legal Aid Advocate, Deanna White, received the 2014 Community Health Award from HealthSource of Ohio. HealthSource is a private, not-for-profit Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC), which offers primary health care services. Deanna was honored because of… Read More

THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SOUTHWEST OHIO, LLC PROVIDES CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTHWEST OHIO AND IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF GREATER CINCINNATI. FIND OUT MORE